File drawer compressor



S pt. 21, 1954 A. F. F'OEHRENBACH 2,689,573

FILE DRAWER COMPRESSOR Filed April 26. .1951

1 ATTORNEY flr/lur fr'efiremlatk Patented Sept. 21,1954

FILE DRAWER COMPRESSOR Arthur F. Foehrenbach, Canton, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey 1951, Serial No. 223,0Q8 (Cl. 129-28) Application April 26,

2 Claims.

This invention relates to compressors for file drawers and more particularly is concerned with means for positively looking a compressor in any one of a number of predetermined positions in a file drawer.

In letter and other types of file drawers, compressive plate members, which may be referred to generally as compressors or alternatively as followers, are employed to maintain the material deposited in the file drawer in an upright, compact group. Such compressors are usually disposed substantially parallel to the front and rear of the drawers and arranged to be moved toward and away from the front of the drawer. Various devices have been employed to fix compressors releasably at positions with respect to the front of the drawer. One device has been to provide a bar or trackway along the floor of the drawer and have means on the compressor for slidably guiding the compressor along the trackway and releasably engaging the bar trackway. Such devices are relatively unsatisfactory because the compressors are not fixed positively at their two sides to the drawers and have no lateral stability. Such compressors, therefore, tend to become misaligned in the drawers and frequently jam on the trackways so that they are diflicult to slide forward or back therealong when the means for locking the compressors on the trackways are released.

Another type of device which has been used with compressors includes means for slidably engaging a trackway or. trackways and has means for cam locking the compressor at the desired positions. However, to move the compressor and secure it in a new position, it was necessary to unlock and lock positively, by manually actuating the cam mechanism in each case. Furthermore, because of the binding of the cam mechanism on the trackways, it was frequentlynecessary to use two hands to actuate such mechanisms, and therefore the operator of the file frequently was required to lay aside material to be filed in order to make the necessary adjustment of the compressor.

The prior devices did not always provide positive locking means and thus the compressors were subject to slippage which would cause the filed material to become disarranged because they were not held compactly.

Furthermore, the locking devices were frequently located near the bottom of the file drawers at the rear of the compressors and were therefore inconvenient to operate.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a positive bi-laterally locking apparatus which may be operated conveniently with one hand from a central position.

Another object is to provide a device which is of simple construction and which may be locked without positive actuation of the locking device.

A still further object is to provide a positive locking device which may be operated with one hand and which is readily accessible adjacent the top of the compressor.

The invention is adapted for use in a file drawer having a compressor or follower member disposed substantially parallel to the front and rear of the drawer and slidably mounted for movement toward and away from the front of the drawer. The invention includes apparatus for positively positioning the compressor member in a plurality of predetermined parallel positions with respect to the front of the drawer, comprising a combination of parallel trackways extending at right angles from the front of the drawer, a compressor member with guiding means connected thereto slidably mounted in the trackways. The combination also includes a plurality of spaced arresting means formed in the trackways, and means attached to the compressor for releasably engaging the spaced arresting means.

In the following more detailed description reference is made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective rear view of a file drawer, with parts cut away, showing apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of a compressor with parts cut away, showing the locking apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional detail view of the apparatus taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a side view of the apparatus, partly in section taken along the line 4-4, in Fig. 2.

The drawer I0 represents a standard type file drawer which is made of sheet metal or other suitable material shaped to form drawer sides ll, bottom I2, and a rear or back portion l3 and front portion (not shown).

Guides or trackways l5, also of sheet metal or other suitable material are welded or otherwise permanently fixed to the upper edges 16 of the sides II, the trackways 15 being attached along the strips I 1 depending from the trackways. The trackways I5 are open on their inner sides and each is provided with a shoulder or floor portion l8 which has formed therein a plurality of spaced apertures 20, for example rectangular apertures (as shown) closely and regularly spaced in a row lengthwise of the trackway shoulder I8. The upper part of each trackway is defined by a depending strip member 2| which forms an inverted channel 22.

The compressor 23 is positioned in the drawer between and transverse to the sides H and substantially parallel with the rear l3 and the front of the drawer (which is not shown). Bracket members 25 are fixed to the compressor adjacent the sides 26 thereof, at about the level of the trackways I5. The brackets 25 may be fixed to the compressor by screws 21 and threaded retaining plates 28. Co-axial holes 3| are provided at the bases of the outwardly extending ears 32 of the brackets 25, cooperating with a transverse slot in the body of each bracket to provide coaxial bearing channels. A release bar 39 having a crank shape is provided with twoco-axial portions 33 adjacent its ends. The co-axial portions 33 of the release bar 33 are supported in. the channels that are defined by the holes 35 pro' vided in the ears 32,- the release bar being thus pivoted to rock about the axis of the portions These co-axial portions 33 of the release bar also extend beyond the sides 25 of the compressor 23 and are received in the trackways I5. Pawls 35 are fixed on the ends 3t of the co-axial portions as of the release bar 36. The pawls 35 may be suitably mounted on the ends 36 of the release bar by riveting or other means and are provided with tongues 38 adapted to engage in the openings 252 in the floor portions Id of the trackways The pawls are arranged with respect to each other so that the tongues 33 of the two pawls engage corresponding openings 2&3 in the trackways it simultaneously when the bar is rotated about the axis of the co-axial members to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In order to remove the tongues 35 of the pawls 35 from their position in engagement with the corresponding openings of the two trackways i5, the crank handle or hail til of the release bar 35 is pulled forward in the direction indicated by the directional arrow in Fig. thereby rotating the coaxial portions 33 and moving the tongues 33 of the pawls out of engagement with the openings 23.

Resilient means, such as leaf springs il, suitably fixed to the rear of the compressor, may be arranged for resilient engagement with the arms 22 of the release bar 35. In the form shown, the springs ii are L-shaped members which are held in place by the brackets 25 which, in turn, are bolted to the compressor 23. Ears 59 extend from the sides of the springs l! to embrace the arms d2 of the bar 39 to prevent the lateral displacement of the springs. The resilient spring members 15 act rearwardly with respect to the drawer so that the co-axial portions 33 are rotated to bring the tongues 38 of the pawls 35 into the openings Each of the tongues 38 is.

provided with a front sloping portion 33 and a substantially vertical rear shoulder G 3. As the compressor is moved forward the tongues 33 of the pawls are cammed upwardly out of the openings 25 by engagement of the sloping surface &3 against the portions of the floor it, between the openings 25. Rearward movement of the compressor is arrested by the abutment of the shoulders id against the portions of the floor it defining the rear part of the openings 26. By this arrangement, it is possible to move the compressor forward in the drawer without operating the release bar 36. Furthermore, when the compressor has been moved forward in the drawer to the desired position, it will automatically lock in that position without the necessity of actuating the release bar 30, inasmuch as the bar is pressed to the locked position by the springs 4 I.

In order to move the compressor 23 rearwardly in the drawer the bail or crank handle 49 of the release bar 35 is pulled forward, i. e. toward the upper face 56 of the compressor, and is maintained in the forward position while the compressor is moved to the desired rearward location. When the compressor is in the desired position, the crank handle is released and the springs -"sl cause the handle to move rearwardly thereby rotating the co-axial portions 33 of the release bar to cause the tongues 38 of the pawls to seat in corresponding openings in the trackways I5.

Guide members which are fixed to the sides 26 of the compressor 23 slidably engage the upper inverted channel 22 of the trackways l5 and also the floor portion H3. The members 45 act to The guide members 45 may be formed as integral parts of the brackets 25, for example being connected to the brackets by the web portions it as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The members 45 have a lower extension arm 47 parallel to the trackways and in slidable engagement with the floor portion i8 and an upper extension arm ,3 parallel to and in slidable engagement with the inverted channels 22. The upper and lower arms are connected by an integral web portion 58 which serves to maintain the members 4? and 48 in engagement with the respective portions of each trackway. The rear portion a: of each lower arm c7 of the guide members 25 serves to limit the downward movement of the pawl 35 so that the tongue 38 may not become jammed or locked in the openings 26.

The compressor member 23 may be formed of sheet metal or other suitable material and may take any desired shape so that it will support material against which it is pressed in the file drawer. As shown in the figures, the upper part of the compressor 23 has been returned upon itself to form a beaded portion 5| along the top of the compressor so that the operator will have a convenient, reinforced, gripping portion with which to draw the compressor forward. Slots 52 are provided in the beaded portion 5| to permit the arms 42 of the release bar 35 to be drawn forward against the rear of the upper face 53 of the compressor 23 so that the co-axial portions 33 of the release bar at may be rotated sufficiently to effect the described release of the tongues 33 of the pawls 35 from the openings 28.

The compressor plate 23 is formed with a re cessed channel 53 which stifiens the plate in a horizontal direction and which also accommodates the screw heads 5% so as to keep the papers or other material in the file drawer from engaging the screw heads. The lower portion 55 of the compressor 23 may be arranged to cocupy a substantially vertical plane, forward of, but substantially parallel to the plane of the upper portion 56 of the compressor 23. In operation, the material 5! in the file will be engaged chiefly by the lower portion 55 of the compressor so that a space a (Fig. 4) will be left or will be easily obtainable between the compressed material 51 and the upper face 56 of the compressor, to give the operator access to the upper face of the compressor.

By this arrangement the operator may insert his thumb in the space a between the file material 51 and the upper face 56 and grasp the crank handle 40 in order to move the crank handle 40 forward conveniently.

The lower edge of the compressor 58 may be turned at right angles rearwardly to the face 55 pressor is exposed to the material in the drawer.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that by the use of apparatus embodying the invention, the compressorcan be positively locked and held bi-laterally in a file drawer. It can be released readily with one hand from a central position adjacent the top of the compressor. Furthermore, the compressor can be moved forwardly to any desired position and locked without the necessity of unlocking and relocking the mechanism. Additionally, it should be noted that once the compressor has been fixed in the locked position, it will not slide rearwardly when pressure is exerted against its front face, until the locking mechanism is released. The compressor is also bi-laterally guided in the drawer so it cannot become misaligned and may be readily moved rearwardly and forwardly in the drawer, being maintained throughout its movement substantially parallel to the front and rear of the drawer.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principles of this invention have been described together with the best mode of applying those principles; however, it should be understood that the structure disclosed is but one mode of utilizing the invention and the structure described is merely illustrative, for the invention may be carried out by other and alternative means. Also, while it is contemplated to use the various features and elements in the combinations and relations described, some of these may be altered and modified in ways other than those suggested, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a file drawer having a compressor member disposed substantially parallel to the front of the drawer and slidably mormted between the sides of the drawer for movement toward and away from the front of the drawer, an apparatus for positively positioning the compressor member in a plurality of parallel predetermined positions with respect to the front of the drawer, comprising, in combination, parallel trackways fixed to the sides of the drawer, each of said trackways being formed with an inverted U-shaped channel,

and a flat shoulder, the channel and shoulder being joined by an upright outer wall, the fiat shoulder of each trackway having defined therein a plurality of corresponding openings successively remote from the front of the drawer, the openings in each trackway being separated by intermediate portions of the trackway shoulder, a compressor member disposed between the trackways, substantially at right angles thereto, and with the sides of the compressor adjacent the respective trackways at the sides of the drawer, guiding means fixed to the sides of the compressor member and slidably mounted in said trackways for slidably engaging in the U-shaped channel and on the fiat shoulder, pawls rotatably and co-axially mounted on a rigid member having coaxial portions rotatably mounted at the sides of said compressor, tongues on said pawls for rotation into engagement with the openings in the trackways, cam surfaces on the pawls: adapted to engage the intermediate portions of the trackways for camming the tongues on said pawls out of the openings when the compressor member is slidably moved in one direction along the trackways, abutments on the tongues of the pawls to engage the said intermediate portions of the trackways for retaining the pawls in the openings and for preventing movement of the compressor in the other direction, resilient means for rotating the pawls into engagement with the openings and maintaining them therein, said guiding means having portions for limiting the movement of the pawls into the openings.

2. In a file drawer having a compressor member disposed substantially parallel to the front of the drawer and slidably mounted between the sides of the drawer for movement toward and away from the front of the drawer, an apparatus for positively positioning the compressor member in a plurality of parallel predetermined positions with respect to the front of the drawer, comprising. in combination, parallel trackways fixed to the sides of the drawer, each of said trackways being formed with an inverted U-shaped channel, and a fiat shoulder, the channel and shoulder being joined by an upright outer wall, the flat shoulder of each trackway having defined therein a plurality of corresponding openings successively remote from the front of the drawer, the openings in each trackway shoulder being separated by intermediate portions of said shoulder, a compressor member disposed between the trackways, substantially at right angles thereto, and with the sides of the compressor adjacent the respective trackways at the sides of the drawer, guiding means fixed to the sides of the compressor member and slidably mounted in said trackways, for slidably engaging in the U-shaped channel and on the fiat shoulder, a rigid member having coaxial portions rotatably mounted at the sides of said compressor, pawls fixed to the ends of said co-axial portions and rotatable therewith, said pawls having tongues for rotation into engagement with the openings in the trackways, cam surfaces on the pawls adapted to engage the intermediate portions of the trackways for camming the tongues of the pawls out of the openings when the compressor member is moved in one direction along the trackways and shoulders on the tongues of the pawls to engage the said intermediate portions of the trackways for re- ;taining the tongues in the openings and thereby .preventing movement of the compressor in the other direction, a bail member connected to the co-axial portions of the rigid member upon which the pawls are mounted for manually rotating the pawls out of engagement with the openings in the trackways, said bail being adjacent the top and disposed between the sides of the compressor, resilient means for rotating the pawls for moving the tongues into engagement with the openings and maintaining them therein, and said guiding means having portions for limiting the movement of the pawls into the openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 202,732 Lees Apr. 23, 1878 924,690 Sampson June 15, 1909 1,780,354 Larson et al Nov. 4, 1930 2,110,185 Weesies Mar. 8, 1938 

